http://mmajunkie.comKeith Jardine said his key career victories were “flashes of greatness,” and that pretty well describes his opponent, Matt Hamill.

Hamill has bulldozed most of his opponents by KO or TKO, and though he won his most recent fight against Jon Jones, he considers it a setback he’d like to overcome.

The two non-cast members co-headline The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale tonight at the The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The night’s main card airs on Spike TV.

Hamill defeated Jones when he took illegal elbow strikes that earned him a paper victory this past December at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale. Until that point, the “TUF 2″ veteran fought with one arm due to a separated his shoulder after Jones injured him with a throw and ground and pound.

The sequence shocked Hamill, a collegiate wrestling standout, who said he never before had been taken down and dominated. He sat out several months as his shoulder healed, and he made a resolution never to be bullied again.

Hamill (8-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) said this week that he has unfinished business with Jones. But first, he needs to address Jardine (15-7-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC).

“Keith Jardine’s a great fighter, and we’re both real hungry,” Hamill said. “It’s not going to be easy. He’s lost three fights, and he doesn’t want to lose again. But he’s the real deal.”

Hamill has fallen short just twice inside the octagon after ostensibly starting his career on the third season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” One of those setbacks, a decision loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 75, is widely considered one of the worst judges’ decisions in the sport’s history. Another setback at UFC 88 was at the hands of his friend, Rich Franklin, and was a fight under admittedly difficult circumstances.

But until Jones tossed him, Hamill had racked up five KO or TKO victories, including a highlight-reel headkick knockout of Mark Munoz. Hamill has shown the ability to withstand punishment and finish opponents with his own.

Against Jardine, we’re likely to see the same approach. Hamill will walk the bearded fighter down time and time again and look for the punch that will end the fight.

Jardine, meanwhile, wants to show UFC fans that his greatness has not been extinguished by three straight losses and two recent lights-out KOs. “The Ultimate Fighter 2″ veteran said he’s learned to relax in the gym and will make a fresh start on tonight.

Quite simply, he didn’t make his unorthodox style work for him like it had before in his victories over Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell.

“Sometimes I got caught because I was trying to be a little bit too orthodox, actually,” Jardine said. “Too clean, like I read a how-to boxing book. A little bit too planted in everything I was doing. Now, it’s more that I just relax and flow free and have fun.”

At this point, Jardine’s reputation as an unorthodox striker has been replaced by a vulnerability to hard punches. He’s been knocked out cold in his two most recent performances against Ryan Bader and Thiago Silva. Prior to that, he’s gone out against Wanderlei Silva and Houston Alexander.

This now is likely Jardine’s last shot at headliner status and could be his last UFC appearance should he meet another knockout.

“I’m not really worried about that,” Jardine said. “I’m in a good place with all that.”

It’s absolutely essential for Jardine to flow free in this bout. He’s unlikely to take Hamill down and unlikely to get a knockout. As in his fight with Liddell, a career-making performance, he’ll stay on his bicycle and snipe from outside while avoiding power punches.

Court McGee and Kris McCray make most of second chances

“The Ultimate Fighter 11″ featured a new format in which the coaches picked two “wild-card” fighters who deserved a second shot in the reality-show tournament. And true to the anything-can-happen nature of MMA, one wild card and an injury replacement made both it to the finals.

Court McGee (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who was defeated in the tournament’s first round by Nick Ring, struck gold when he replaced an injured Rich Attonito in the show’s quarterfinals. He took on fellow injury replacement James Hammortree and picked up a second-round submission victory. He then choked out semifinalist Brad Tavares to earn his spot in the finals.

Meanwhile, McCray (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) defeated Cleburn Walker during the elimination round and fell short against Josh Bryant in the opening round. But Tito Ortiz, his coach at the time, gave him a second shot as a wild-card pick, and he put it to good use. In what undoubtedly would be considered an upset victory on the professional circuit, he submitted veteran Kyacey Uscola in another first-round tournament bout and went on to grind down Kyle Noke and avenge his loss to Bryant in the semifinals, both via decision.

Both fighters are gracious for the second chance.

“To redeem myself would be to win the whole thing,” said McCray, a former U.S. Army Reserve soldier. “I had a tough road, as Court did. I came back from a loss. My team was all arguing. The coaches quit, and I had to fight my teammates and friends.

“It’s good to be here.”

McGee, who lost a split decision to Ring, said the experience taught him a lesson never to leave a fight in the hands of judges.

“I was given an opportunity, and McCray was given an opportunity, and we both took advantage of it and didn’t sit and dwell on it,” McGee said. “I think it shows [McCray and me] have heart and skill.”

McGee, a former alcoholic and drug addict, saw the show as another way to prove he could turn his life around and succeed. He approached it as he did in recovery: one day at a time.

“It’s a victory that I’m here today in my hotel room with the opportunity to fight someone like Kris McCray,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) earlier this week. “That’s winning regardless if I win or lose (tonight). I’ve done everything I can do to show up in shape and healthy.”

Both agree that the gap between the show’s production end and the live finale will make for a better fight because they aren’t fighting hurt, which they were during taping.

There is not an ounce of bad blood between them going into the fight.

“I remember the last day when everybody went out; I gave Court my wallet because I was like, ‘I know me, and I know you,'” McCray said. “He’s a strong-willed guy, and he has my back. Even though we’re fighting each other, I feel like I could call him up for anything.”

Leben escaped a UFC pink slip with a decision victory over Jay Silva in January, and he’ll look to lay his heavy hands on Simpson, a decorated collegiate wrestler who’s taken hard to the stand-up game. The primary question in the match-up is whether Simpson can dodge the big shots and land straight punches in return. On the mat, he’ll have the edge on top. But if he’s put on his back, we could see Leben inch out a decision win. Old habits die hard, though, and Leben likely will headhunt after he takes a few punches.

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